Best Invoicing Software for Small Business (2026)
Shortlist Software is reader-supported. If you sign up through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Updated October 26, 2026. Prices below were checked against each company’s own pricing page on this date.
Getting paid on time is one of the biggest headaches in a small business. Invoicing software sends professional invoices, lets customers pay online by card or bank transfer, and chases late payers with automatic reminders. Many tools also handle expenses and bookkeeping, which makes tax time easier.
We compared five popular invoicing tools on what matters to a small business: whether there’s a free plan, the real monthly cost after any introductory discount, client or invoice limits, payment fees, and who each one is the wrong fit for.
Our quick picks
- Best free invoicing: Zoho Invoice. Free for small businesses, with recurring invoices and automatic reminders.
- Best free invoicing plus bookkeeping: Wave. Unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records at $0.
- Best for freelancers and service businesses: FreshBooks. Polished invoices, estimates, proposals and retainers.
- Best full accounting software: QuickBooks Online. The accounting tool most accountants know.
- Best for teams (no per-user fees): Xero. Every plan includes unlimited users.
Invoicing software comparison
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Regular price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Invoice | Free invoicing | Yes, forever free | $0 |
| Wave | Free invoicing + bookkeeping | Yes (Starter) | Pro: $190/yr |
| FreshBooks | Freelancers and service businesses | No (free trial) | From $23/mo |
| QuickBooks Online | Full accounting | No (30-day trial) | From $38/mo |
| Xero | Teams, unlimited users | No | From $27/mo |
*Regular prices after introductory offers end. FreshBooks, QuickBooks and Xero were all running steep first-months discounts when we checked; see each section.
Zoho Invoice: Best free invoicing
Zoho Invoice is a genuinely free invoicing tool for small businesses and freelancers. It covers everything most owners need to bill customers and get paid, with no ads and no paid upgrade required.
Pricing
Free. Zoho also sells Zoho Billing and Zoho Books if you outgrow invoicing and need subscriptions or full accounting.
Why we like it
- Recurring invoices and automatic payment reminders at no cost
- Quotes, expense tracking, time tracking and a customer self-service portal
- Free email and phone support, 24 hours a day, 5 days a week
Who it’s not for
Businesses that want invoicing and full bookkeeping in one place. Zoho Invoice handles billing; for bank reconciliation and accounting reports, look at Wave, QuickBooks or Xero.
Wave: Best free invoicing plus bookkeeping
Wave’s free Starter plan lets you create unlimited invoices, estimates, bills and bookkeeping records. It’s a popular choice for sole proprietors who want simple books without a monthly fee.
Pricing
Starter is free. Online card payments cost 2.9% + 60¢ per transaction (3.4% + 60¢ for Amex). Pro is $190 a year billed annually (or $19 a month) and adds automatic bank imports, transaction categorizing, unlimited receipt capture, automatic late-payment reminders and a lower card fee of 2.9% with no fixed fee for your first 10 transactions each month. Wave Advisors bookkeeping services start at $149 a month.
Why we like it
- Unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records for free
- Invoice from the mobile app
- Pro is inexpensive at $190 a year
Who it’s not for
Businesses that take a lot of card payments on the free plan: the 60¢ fixed fee per transaction adds up. Automatic bank imports and late-payment reminders also require Pro.
FreshBooks: Best for freelancers and service businesses
FreshBooks is built around billing clients for your time and services. It makes professional invoices, estimates, proposals and retainers easy, and lets clients pay by card, ACH bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Buy Now, Pay Later.
Pricing
Regular monthly prices are Lite at $23 (invoice up to 5 clients), Plus at $43 (50 clients) and Premium at $70 (unlimited clients). When we checked, FreshBooks was offering 80% off for the first 4 months, plus an extra 10% off yearly billing and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Team members cost $11 per user per month.
Why we like it
- Polished invoices, estimates, proposals and retainers
- Many ways for clients to pay
- Expense tracking and tax-time reports on every plan
Who it’s not for
Businesses with more than a handful of clients on a tight budget. Lite allows invoicing only 5 clients, so most businesses will need Plus at $43 a month. Extra users also cost $11 each.
QuickBooks Online: Best full accounting software
QuickBooks Online is full accounting software with invoicing built in. It’s the tool many accountants and bookkeepers already use, which makes working with your accountant easier.
Pricing
Regular monthly prices are Simple Start at $38 (1 user), Essentials at $85 (3 users), Plus at $140 (5 users) and Advanced at $340 (25 users). Every plan includes access for your accountants. When we checked, QuickBooks offered 50% off for the first 3 months, or a 30-day free trial.
Why we like it
- Complete accounting, not just invoicing
- Familiar to most accountants and bookkeepers
- Invoicing and online payments on every plan
Who it’s not for
Owners who only need to send invoices. QuickBooks is the most expensive option here, and Simple Start includes just 1 user.
Xero: Best for teams (no per-user fees)
Xero is full accounting software that doesn’t charge per user, so you can give your team and your accountant access without your bill going up.
Pricing
Regular monthly prices are Early at $27, Growing at $59 and Established at $97. Early limits you to 20 invoices and 5 bills, so most active businesses will want Growing. When we checked, Xero was offering 90% off the first 6 months for new customers.
Why we like it
- No per-user license fees on any plan
- Free expert setup help
- Bank reconciliation, sales tax and 1099 management included
Who it’s not for
Businesses that send more than a few invoices: Early’s 20-invoice limit is tight, which makes the realistic price $59 a month.
How to choose invoicing software
- Invoicing only, or full accounting? If you just need to bill customers, start free with Zoho Invoice or Wave. If you want bank reconciliation and accounting reports, compare QuickBooks, Xero and Wave Pro.
- Look past the introductory price. FreshBooks, QuickBooks and Xero all advertise deep first-months discounts. Budget for the regular price.
- Check client, invoice and user limits. FreshBooks limits clients, Xero Early limits invoices and QuickBooks limits users.
- Compare payment fees. If customers pay by card often, small per-transaction fees add up.
How we chose
We compared each tool’s current pricing pages, plan limits, introductory offers and payment fees as of October 26, 2026, and judged them by what a small business needs. Our guides are based on research, not hands-on testing, so use the free plans and trials to see which one you like before you commit. Prices change often, so confirm the current price on the provider’s site. This guide isn’t tax or accounting advice; talk to your accountant about what your business needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free invoicing software for small business?
Zoho Invoice is free for small businesses and includes recurring invoices and automatic reminders. Wave’s free Starter plan adds unlimited bookkeeping records.
Is QuickBooks or FreshBooks better for a small business?
FreshBooks is built around invoicing clients for services, and its pricing is based on how many clients you bill. QuickBooks Online is fuller accounting software that most accountants know. If you mostly bill clients for your time, FreshBooks is simpler; if you need complete books, QuickBooks covers more.
How much does invoicing software cost?
From free (Zoho Invoice, Wave Starter) to $23–$38 a month for entry plans from FreshBooks, Xero and QuickBooks at regular prices.